Genealogy Chat

Looking for information on an illigitimate births as I am unble to find any record. Male born 1851 although as he was born in Scotland I was wondering if, as his father wasn't known he might not have been registered as I know it wasn't law in Scotland until 1855. If anyone thinks they might have knowledge about this area of genealogy please get back to me as I seem to be really stuck here. thanks

You would need to look for his baptism in the 'Old Parochial Registers' also known as 'Old Parish Registers'. Try the IGI on www.familysearch.org first and if you draw a blank there, try Scotland's People at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk (the reason for this is that family search is free but you have to pay on Scotland's People). The surname is most likely to be his mother's surname, but if you don't find him using that surname, try the father's surname too (if you know it - sorry, just noticed you said it was unknown!). There were certainly plenty of baptisms of illegitimate children; sometimes it says something like 'base born', sometimes you know because only the mother's name is given. There will not be any birth registration if he was born before 1855, just a baptism. If he got married or died in Scotland then his marriage or death certificate should give details of his parents' names. Kate.

Thanks Kate, I do have his wedding certificate which shows me his mothers name and his father as unknown. On family search and Scotlands People it doesn't give me anything on births etc although I can trace his address back to living with his grandmother on the 1861 census. As this gave me his grandmothers name I thought this would help but it shows as her married name and i'm still no further.... arggh.... you would never guess i'm new to this !

The only other suggestion I have is post up the details you have and see if anybody can help. Kate.